The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-02-23
Thankful's Yigils.

ThankfuPS NigilS.
When the irrepressible American
bored down thousand feet into the
heart of Pennsylvania and extracted
fabulous quantities of oil, and when
the ladies became content with steel
strips for corsets instead of whalebone,
then one of the greatest and most adj
venturous of the industries of New
England received its death blow.
Our story relates to the time when
there was hustle and business in an
ancient and historic seaport, where
now may be seen rotting wharves and
tumble-down warehouses when a
dozen seagoing vessels were in the
harbor where one is now seen; when
the stanch whale-ships went out on
their long voyages and came back
laden with the wealth that made the
prosperity of the port; when sailors
and sailors families made up large
share of the population, and the old
town really seemed TO belong less to
the land than to the sea.
All this has changed and the Incl
dents we relate could hardly occur
there now. But human lives and hui
man hopes and fears, happiness and
misery are much the same everywhere.
Well back from the harbor, the
wharves and the busy part of the town,
in that outskirt of it that was built on
the rising ground that overlooked the
town, bay and ocean, Captain Benson
had his cottage. He was at home very
little of the time, but when he was he
loved place like this, commanding a
wide view of the ocean rim, where he
could sit at the window by the hour
and with his good glass discover the
first indication of sails approaching the
coast. He was a veteran whaler and
had for fully fifty years pursued the
business on all seas. For the last two
years he had commanded the whale
ship Chevalier." On his last voyage
out he had said to his wife: It'll be
the last, Nancy. Let me 90 once more
to the South Pacific and fill the old ship
with oil, and then I'll stay here and
pass the rest of my days with you and
Thankful. Jack Sturdy, my mate, will
be the master; he's a fine fellow,
Thankful. must bring him here to
ee you"
Then the old captain looked from his
wife to his daughter, and added the
droll remark: g For my part, Pm be-
ginning to think it's time | was better
acquainted with you two"
He went to sea again; but he never
returned. A year later the eyes of the
wife and daughter were gladdened by
the sight of the Chevalier" sailing into
the bay. But instead of him they
eagerly watched for, the mate came
up slowly and sorrowfully to tell them
that the captain had died of fever in
Callao and was buried there.
John Sturdy was now captain and
was busy enough overhauling the ship,
picking his crew and making all ready
for his first voyage in command of the
ship. But it was noticed that after
everything had been done for the wife
and daughter which the dying captain
had requested, after their grief had
somewhat subsidized Captain Sturdy
still climbed the hill to the cottage at
least three times week.
Presently the gossips of the neigh
borhood began to hint that Thankful
Benson could tell why he came so often
and not more than three months had
passed since he first came when Mrs.
Benson silenced them all with the plain
statement:
ACCQh DC duy lulSlCll
about it, Thankful and Captain Sturdy
are engaged, and will be married as
soon as proper respect for the memory
of her father will allow. It'll probably
be at the end of the Chevalier's next
voyage"
John Sturdy was an experienced sea-
man of thirty-five-fifteen years older
than Thankful-to whom his ship had
lno l. Il. 20 "a
love and marriage had appeared idle
myths. He met Thankful Benson fol
the first time (when she tainted in his
arms) upon his distressing errandtO the
cottage. She had grown upon his
fancy with every visit and his heart
was quickly offered. With her it was q
case of first love; he was all that her
girlish Imagination required. And
when he took the girl by the hand and
asked the widow for her consent, she
smiled and sighed all at once.
go, it's well enough, Thankful" she
said, if you must marry a sailor, but
| was in hopes you wouldn't let youl
affections go seafaring."
It's the way of our family, yor
know, mother" and the daughter
smiled and looked up to her sailor
trusuully.
{" Indeed it is, and a sorry and heart
breaking way it has been for the
women, Not only in our family, bu
in all the seamen's families is it true
For thirty years I've known this port
and of all its sailors that have died il
that time not one out of four has died
in his bed. But the Lord wills it, and
you may be happy"
When | knew | was to be the mas
ter of the Chevalier," said JOIN
Sturdy, Z" l did not think l should qui
her for ten years at least. Pm sailol
and love the sea, with all its perils
but now, if Thankful asks me to quit il
for her, Pm ready"
Indeed, then do ask YOU"
But only at the end of this voyage.
My word has been given to the own
ers and cannot break it. The time
will be short; let us live in hope of it,
All, this one last voyage" sighet
Mrs. Benson, ruefully. Pray God i